Magnetic ribbon guide and ribbon for typewriters and the like



May 7, 1957 W. E. COFF MAN MAGNETIC RIBBON GUIDE AND RIBBON FOR TYPEWRITERS AND THE LIKE Filed Dec. 50, 1955 I N VEN TOR. W/u/AM .E. CbFFMA/v Arro mvsys MAGNETIC RIBBON'GUIDE AND RIBBON FOR TYPEWRITERS AND THE LIKE William E. Coifman, Coshocton, Ohio Application December 30, 1953, Serial No. 401,129

Claims. (Cl. 197-170) This invention relates to the art'of typewriters or like machines and is for an improved means for placing and holding the inked ribbon in operative position in the machine.

As is of course well known, in the conventional form of typewriter it is necessary to threadthe ribbon through the two slots in the guide member; and, because of the inked condition-ofthe ribbon, such procedure has resulted in very'decidedsoilingof the fingers of the one installing the ribbon. So far as I am aware, this same condition has existed for many years and it isthis condition that my present invention is designed to correct.

Accordingly, itis the object of my present invention to devise a typewriter-or like machine with a magnetized guide for an inked ribbon having a material provided therealongthat is magnetically responsive so as to facilitate the positioning of the ribbon in the machine without the soiling ofthe users fingers, and also to ensure maintaining of the ribbon in operative position during the use of the machine.

The scope of my present invention comprehends the provision of an improved ribbon itself for a typewriter or other such machine, this ribbon having embodied as a unitary part thereof a magnetically responsive material so as to be adapted for convenient installation and maintaining of the same in a machine; and my present invention includes also the improvement in the typewriting machine itself or other such machine that is provided with a magnetized guide means for my special form of ribbon.

Other objects will appear from the following description and claims when considered together with the accompanying drawing.

Fig. l is a perspective view illustrating my present improved combination in a typewriter;

Fig. 2 is an elevation of a part of my present improved form of ribbon for use in this combination, here shown somewhat enlarged;

Fig. 3 illustrates the special form of guide means for my ribbon, this view corresponding to line 4-4 of Fig. 1 except that the ribbon is omitted from Fig. 3; and

Fig. 4 is a view taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 1.

It is to be understood that my present invention does not require any radical changes in the structure of the conventional typewriter except as relates to the guide means for the inked ribbon and the ribbon itself. There fore, since the general operating means remains the same as in the conventional machine, there is here illustrated only the ribbon-guide means and the ribbon itself, together with the conventional spools S upon which the ribbon is wound.

Referring now to the accompanying drawing in detail, the present improved ribbon-guide means consists of a pair of vertically disposed spaced parallel bar magnets 1 and 2 which are supported upon the upper end of the conventionally vertically movable arm 3 which may be raised and lowered in the same manner and for the same purpose as in the present-day form of typewriter.

nited States Patent W Hence thismanipul'ating means is here indicated in. only a general way, my. present improved guide means occupying the same position as the old slotted guide member.

Each of the bar magnets. 1 and 2: has rearwardly extending horizontal parallel upper and lower projections 41and 5, respectively, that are sufficiently spaced from each other ineach instance to receive the ribbon 6 therebetween so as toprevent accidental vertical displacement ofv the same and. also to=ensure upeandi-down movement ofi the ribbon with the guide means. The ribbon 6. may have its entire body impregnated with a magnetically responsive metallic material or it may have only its upper and lower longitudinalmarginal portions so impregnated, as indicated by reference numerals 7 and. 8, the ribbon being suitably inked in either case throughout the whole extent thereof so-as tofunctionin the manner intended aspart of atypewriter or the like.

The ribbon 6 may be of the same width as the presentd'ay typewriter ribbon so as tobe adapted for use upon the conventional spools S; and: the bar magnets 1 and 2 may beof such: height that the ribbon will be properly received and adapted for proper lengthwise movement betweenthe-upper and lower projections 4 and 5. Also, my present improvement does not require any substantial change in the thickness-0f the typewriter ribbon.

Thus, with my present invention, the ribbon 6 may have its-freeend attached to the empty spool of the typewriter and then it is merely necessary to apply the intermediate part otthe ribbon to the magnetized guide means: which willhol'd theribbon in place in a positive and. dependable manner by virtue of the magnetically responsive means carried bythe ribbon. Also, the ribban will occupyeffective position with respect tothe regular roller, not here shown. With this simple and efficientmanner ofpos'itioning the typewriter ribbon, it may not be necessary for the user to touch the ribbon with his fingers after placing its free end upon the empty spool S as the ribbon might then be positioned within its guide prior to placing the spools in position. In any event, the old practice of soiling the fingers of the use'rs hands while threading the ribbon through the old slotted form of guide member is eliminated; and this is here accomplished without interfering with or hindering the operation of the ribbon in the typewriter or other such machine.

The ribbon 6 will be made of suitable fibrous material, as heretofore, and might be impregnated throughout its entire extent by dipping the same in a magnetically responsive metallic substance, or only its upper and lower longitudinal edge portions might be dipped into a metallic substance of such character; and such metallic material might be applied to the ribbon in any other suitable manner. The ribbon will of course be inked.

I have found that the ribbon should not be inked prior to application of the magnetically responsive material to the same; and, by way of illustration, I will now mention several methods by which this may be accomplished. (1) The un-inked ribbon of fibrous material may be placed in a solution of ferric sulphate in which zinc filings or metallic zinc have been placed; with the result that the zinc will replace the iron which will be deposited in the fibrous ribbon. Then, after suitably drying the ribbon, it may be inked. (2) The un-inked fibrous ribbon may be placed in a solution of paraflin in which a fairly high concentration of powdered iron has been mixed; and, upon removal of the ribbon therefrom and solidification of the parafiin upon the ribbon, the paraffin is removed by means of a suitable solvent, as for instance xyol, so as to leave the free iron in suspension in the fibres of the ribbon. (3) Powdered iron may be mixed in the ink prior to its application to the fibrous ribbon, the iron being held in suspension by the ink. In each of these methods the resulting iron deposit upon the ribbon will respond to magnetic flow and will thus serve the purpose for which intended in the present invention; and it is possible that there might be devised other methods of applying the magnetically responsive material to the fibres of the ribbon so as to perform the function herein contemplated.

While my present improvement is herein illustrated and described in connection with a typewriter, it might be embodied also in the inked ribbons of other similar machines, as for instance adding machines, time clocks, etc., and the following claims are to be so interpreted.

It is to be understood that the present form of disclosure is merely for the purpose of illustration and that there might be devised various modifications thereof without departing from the spirit of my invention as herein set forth and claimed.

What I claim is:

1. In a device of the class described, the combination of a magnetized guide for a ribbon to be positioned therein and to be moved therealong, and an inked ribbon adapted for movement along said guide and provided therealong with a metallic material that is responsive to said magnetized guide so as a facilitate positioning and maintaining the ribbon therein.

2. In a device of the class described, the combination of a vertically movable magnetized guide for a ribbon to be positioned therein and to be moved therealong, and an inked ribbon having its end portions wound upon two spools oppositely located with respect to said guide, said ribbon being adapted for movement along said guide from one of said spools to the other and being provided thercalong with a metallic material that is responsive to said magnetized guide so as to facilitate positioning and maintaining the ribbon therein.

3. In a device of the class described, the combination of a magnetized guide having an upright bar magnet with upper and lower laterally projecting portions adapted to i serve as a guide for a ribbon to be positioned therein and to be moved therealong, and an inked ribbon provided therealong with a metallic material that is responsive to said magnetized guide so as to facilitate positioning and maintaining the ribbon therein.

4. In a device of the class described, the combination of a ribbon-guide means consisting of a plurality of vertically disposed spaced parallel bar magnets each having upper and lower laterally projecting portions adapted for positioning a ribbon therein for movement of the same therealong, and an inked ribbon provided therealong with a metallic material that is responsive to said magnet bars so as to facilitate positioning and maintaining said ribbon therein.

5. In a device of the class described, an ink-impregnated flexible fibrous typewritter ribbon having only its two longitudinal edge portions impregnated in a substantially uniform manner with a magnetically responsive material so as to maintain substantially uniform flexibility throughout.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,114,532 Sargent et a1. Oct. 20, 1914 1,130,020 Ramsey Mar. 2, 1915 1,953,316 Stark Apr. 3, 1934 2,127,812 Gabrielson Aug. 23, 1938 2,137,256 Waldron Nov. 22, 1938 2,163,601 Humes June 27, 1939 2,213,644 Antrim Sept. 3, 1940 2,545,125 Van Dusen Mar. 13, 1951 2,744,031 'Mumma May 1, 1956 5 2,751,433 Linger June 19, 1956 FOREIGN PATENTS 79,191 Switzerland Oct. 16, 1918 Great Britain Nov. 26, 1952 

